Budgeting

Estimate how much you can afford by doing a budget. Consider expenses such as rent, food, books, stationery, printing, transport, calculators, CSU fees, entertainment, personal needs. If you're smart with your spending, you can cut down on your living expenses and save money.

There are a number of aspects to consider when budgeting for costs at university: tuition fees, accommodation fees, course expenses like textbooks and materials, and general living expenses.

Budgeting

The following is an example of some of the annual costs involved in being a student at CSU. Please be reminded that this is intended to be used as a guide when preparing a budget. The living costs vary from student to student depending on their lifestyle and preferences.

Academic costs (compulsory costs per year in Australian dollars) Minimum Maximum
Tuition fee as scheduled
Text books, stationery, equipment etc. $500 $1,000
Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC) $348 $696
Internet charges $80 $400
Photocopying charges $30 $30

There may be additional costs associated with your course, for example, travel and living expenses during practicum, protective clothing and specialist equipment.

Personal costs Minimum Maximum
Rental establishment costs $600 $1,200
Rent $5,200 $6,240
Contributions to household costs $1,400 $2,800
University accommodation as scheduled
Food $2,880 $4,600
Uni bus expenses $520 $1,040
Miscellaneous (entertainment, clothes, repairs) $1,200 $2,400

*not shown are costs associated with owning a car, mobile telephone and other luxury items

Helpful hints to save money

Here are some great ways to cut down on your living expenses:

  • Remember you may have to undertake workplace learning. Ask if you pay full board or rent at these times. Also, negotiate prices during holiday periods if you are not going to be there.
  • When negotiating accommodation, ask if you will need sheets, towels and pillows or cooking utensils, plus stationery and personal effects. These items will add to your costs.
  • Plan to take your lunch to university at least two to three times a week. This saves at least $15 a week which translates to almost $800a year.
  • Take away your main temptation; access to money. Withdraw a certain amount of cash and leave your cards and cheque book at home, perhaps even leaving $10 in an envelope for taxi fares.
  • When you are in the supermarket, think twice about reaching for the more colourful and more expensive name brands. Try a few no-name labels to compare quality - often for half the price the quality is just as good. And don't go food shopping when you are hungry!
  • Plan meals in advance and prepare a shopping list before you go shopping. Studies prove that shoppers without a list buy more items than those who come prepared.
  • Think about buying goods second hand. Check opportunity shops, second hand shops, community newspapers for furniture, bedding, cutlery, crockery. Auctions and garage sales serve up budget-priced quality items to the trained eye.
  • Do not buy a heater that is cheap to buy but expensive to run.

"Some helpful hints" are drawn from "Budgeting: Making it Easy" by the Credit Union Services Corporation.

Where to go next

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